Andrew Liszewski

Stoolies, rats, and snitches might one day have Bahram Azizollah Ganji to thank for not getting killed. Because he just created the world's smallest capacitor microphone, measuring in at just half a millimeter on each side.

Working at the Babol Noshirvani University of Technology, Bahram's mic is almost invisible to the naked eye and uses the same MEMs, or micro-electro-mechanical systems, approach as the mics currently used in portable devices.

By combining all of the various components into an all-in-one chip, the continually shrinking technology helps to make the devices they're used in even smaller. Which will continue to improve the form factor of smartphones, Bluetooth headsets, hearing aids, and even medical devices designed to monitor the inner workings of your body. Not to mention they're particularly ideal for spies and law enforcement types hoping to listen in without getting someone killed. [ISNA via Crazy Engineers]